Bleacher structure



Dec. 5, 1950 J. w. THOMPSON 2,532,649

BLEACHER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 23, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l l g, m k

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Q a 6, a m 8 2 James W. Thompson WW Em Inventor Dec. 5, 1950 J. w. THOMPSON BLEACHER STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1948 U a n H R n n S n QT 3 n n "I I R, k N I 3 n W NE N wm wu 3 N9 mm Inventor n w W. p m M T W s. m. .wh M N L Q\ Q N\ QM mm w t Dec. 5, 1950' J. w. THOMPSON 2,532,649

BLEACHER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 25, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet s Inventor James W. Thompson B 2mm.

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Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES E ATENT OFFICE BLEACHER STRUCTURE James W. Thompson, Alexandria, La. Application November 23, 1948, Serial No. 61,594

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in bleachers, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a bleacher structure of the character herein described, which is of a discerptible nature so that it may be conveniently and readily transported from one location to another and so that it maybe easily stored when it is not in use.

One of the features of the invention resides in what may be referred to as a pro-fabricated arrangement of the bleacher structure, whereby erection and dismantling thereof is greatly facilitated.

Some of the advantages of the invention lie in its simplicity ofconstruction, in its pleasing appearance, in its rigidity and durability, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective detailillustrating the support means for the seat and foot rest providing boards;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the attachment of a leg extension to a support leg used in the invention; 7

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5--5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 6-5 in Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side elevational View, similar to that shown in Figure l, but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a bleacher structure designated generally by the reference character Ill, the same consisting of a plurality of spaced supports l2 carrying sets of seat and foot rest forming boards or planks 1'4, as will be hereinafter described.

The supports l2 are similar in construction, so that a description of one will suffice for all.

Each of the supports l2 consists of an inclined truss l6 provided at the elevated end portion thereof with a downwardly extending leg [8, this truss, including the leg portion thereof, being 2 best shown in Figure 1, wherein it will be apparent that the truss, including the leg portion, consists of a plurality of suitable structural members which are rigidly secured together by welding, or the like.

The truss it and the leg is are, of course, suitably reinforced as exemplified at 28, 22, 24, etc. and it is to be noted that the lower end 26 of the truss rests upon the ground indicated at 2B.

A vertical leg extension 30, similar in construction to the truss it, is provided at the lower end of the truss leg l8, this being effected by equipping the lower end'of the leg is in the upper end of the extension 38 with a pair of support plates 32, 34, respectively, which plates may be separably secured together by suitable fastening elements such as for example, the bolts 36, as is best shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The lower end of the leg extension 38 is, in turn, provided with a suitable foot member 38 resting uponthe ground.

Sets of spaced parallel rods 4|! are secured, preferably by welding, at their longitudinally spaced points to the upper, inclined edge of the truss l6, these rods or bars being angulated to extend horizontally and vertically from their points of attachment to the truss, so as to provide what may be referred to as sets of spaced parallel supporting members designated by the separate reference character 42.

The sets of supporting members 42, are, of course, horizontally disposed and are adapted to receive thereon aforementioned sets of horizontal boards or planks M, the latter constituting alternate seats and foot rests of the bleacher structure, as will be clearly apparent.

The several supports l2 are erected in spaced relation and are connected together by suitable tie rods 44, 46 attached to the truss legs I8 and leg extensions 3!], respectively (see Figure 2) and if desired, transverse reinforcing beams or straps 48 may also be employed for securing together the legs l8 of the several supports immediately adjacent the leg plates 32.

The boards or planks M are positioned on the supporting members .2 provided on the erected supports I2, and suitable fastening elements such as bolts 59, equipped with washers 52 and nuts 54, extend through the planks l4 and pass between the support members 42, whereby the planks are firmly and securely attached to the support members and hence, to the supports themselves. This arrangement is best illustrated in the accompanying Figures 3 and 6, and it will be noted that three of the support members 42 are provided in each set, so that ends of the planks may be placed in abutment and carried by the support members, substantially as shown. However, where intermediate portions of the planks are supported, only two of the support members may be provided in a set, with the fastening elements 58 passing therebetween. That is to say, only two support members may be used in a set at the ends of the bleacher structure, and a set of two support members may also be employed intermediate the ends of the planks in instances where the planks extend between or span the distance between three or more supports.

If desired, the supports at the ends of the bleacher structure may be provided with upstanding members 56 carrying an inclined hand rail 58, and a back rest or rail 60 may be provided on vertical extensions 62 with which the elevated end portions of the supports 12 may be equipped, substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying Figure 7, the

truss 10 similar to the aforementioned truss I6,

is equipped at the lower end thereof with a vertical extension 12, while the extension of the truss leg at the elevated end of the truss (not shown) is correspondingly increased in height,

whereby the entire bleacher structure is supported at a higher level rather than having its lower or front portion resting directly upon the ground.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the extension 12 may be equipped at its loWer end with a ground engaging member 14 similar to the aforementioned member 3?, while the upper end of the extension, is equipped with a bolting plate 76 secured as at '18 to a further bolting plate 89 provided at the lower end portion of the truss. The, remaining portion of the bleacher structure shown in Figure 7 is substantially similar to that already described in connection with the embodiment l0.

It is believed that the advantages and use of i the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described perferred embodiments of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the claimed as new is:

In a bleacher structure, the combination of an inclined stringer, a set of three spaced parallel rods afiording stepped horizontal supports and secured at longitudinally spaced points to the upper edge of said stringer, a set of tread forming boards extending transversely of said sup ports and having abutting end edges disposed above the axis of the center rod the set, and fastening elements provided in the abutting end portions of said boards and extending through the spaces between said rods, whereby the boards are adjustably and removably secured to said supports.

invention, what is JAMES V]. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED I'he following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,452,467 Lambert Apr. 1'7, 1923' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 453,642 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1936 557,879 Great Britain Dec. 9, 1943 

